The University Center for Politics announced in early August it will host a debate for the Virginia gubernatorial candidates in partnership with NBC 12 (WWBT-Richmond) in October.
The debate will be moderated by Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato, the director of the Center. It will be the only statewide broadcast television debate in the entire campaign, Sabato said.
"We want the voters to be as informed as possible and to see the candidates in a stressful situation up close and personal," he said. "This is pure public service, and we're delighted that the University of Virginia could perform this public service for the people of Virginia."
The Center is devising two separate formats for the debates, one that would allow for two candidates and another for three. The options allow for independent candidate Russ Potts to possibly participate as well as Democratic candidate Tim Kaine and Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore.
In order to participate, Potts has to receive 15 percent support in two separate public opinion polls prior to the debate, a standard the Center holds in every debate it conducts.
"We certainly feel that we should be a part of any debate in Virginia," Potts campaign communication director Mike McCall said. "We feel he does belong and he's met all the requirements and deserves the spot on any debate."
McCall said while the 15 percent rule may be appropriate for presidential debates, Virginians deserve to see all the candidates. Even so, McCall said he is confident Potts will reach the 15 percent threshold and will positively participate in the debate.
Kaine already has agreed to debate with Potts immediately following his Fairfax Chamber debate with Kilgore, from which Potts was excluded.
"We respect the prerogative of debate organizers to conduct the debate sponsors as they see fit," Kaine campaign press secretary Delacey Skinner said. "We would welcome Russ Potts if the organizers wanted to invite him."
Kilgore campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said Potts really only affected Kaine's campaign.
"It would simply mean that there was another liberal candidate on stage," Murtaugh said.
The debate will be unique in that NBC has released the satellite coordinates for every station, not only to air it live but also to release it on tape at a later time. A normal NBC satellite feed is only given to NBC affiliates.
"That is really an act of public service on NBC's part," Sabato said. "It's unprecedented in all the years I've worked in debates."
Representatives for both Kaine and Potts agreed it is important to afford as many people as possible the opportunity to watch the candidates debate.
Murtaugh said he saw a clear outcome for the two-candidate debate option.
"We intend to win, and we want to make sure that the people of Virginia see that these are the two most different candidates nominated in recent Virginia history."
According to Sabato, the race will have a national audience because only Virginia and New Jersey have gubernatorial races this year, and these off-year races allow voters to send messages to a president.
"People watch debates to get a glimpse into their real selves as opposed to the phoney-baloney images that are projected by the media consultants," he said.
Sabato said the debate fulfills the educational purpose of the Center in addition to linking the University with a "significant public service."
"It's a lot of work and very expensive and also controversial," he said. "It is impossible to please everyone in politics."
Sabato said he would attempt to include questions that had particular relevance for students and encouraged student involvement in putting the event together.
As for the debate itself, Sabato offered tips to viewers in digesting the debates.
"You always look for a moment of spontaneity when the candidates are forced off their tape-recorded answers, and we will do our best to produce a few such moments," he said.
The subheadline for this article originally cited the date of the debate as Oct. 8. In fact, the debate is scheduled for Oct. 9.
Read More
In a changed Honor system, the Honor Committee struggles to generate engagement
By Bertie Azqueta | 14 hours agoThe Honor Committee’s public meetings have been substantially shorter this semester. This semester the Committee’s meetings have had an average length of 34 minutes compared to 50 minutes in the 2024-25 term and 47 minutes in the 2023-24 term.
Student hot-spots on the Corner raise prices in response to increased operating costs
By Lily Kostro | 14 hours agoAndy McClure, owner of The Virginian and a class of 2001 alumnus, said that the last five years have placed a strain on the restaurant business due to significant expense increases.
How does U.Va.’s agreement with the Justice Department compare to the Compact?
By Nicolas Biernacki | YesterdayWhile both the rejected Compact and the Justice Department agreement faced resistance from the University community and have several similarities, the agreement provides firmer protection for academic freedom.
